Stud defender Odenigbo chooses Northwestern

Northwestern has added a star-studded recruit to its much maligned defense.

Linebacker/end Ifeadi Odenigbo, the nation’s 50th-ranked recruit by ESPN and 109th by Rivals.com, announced Saturday that he would become the 20th member of NU’s class.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Odenigbo is among the most celebrated players ever to commit to Northwestern. He turned down offers from SEC schools such as Alabama and Big Ten schools such as Michigan. His final three were Northwestern, Stanford and Notre Dame.

Odenigbo, who runs a sub-4.5 40 and carries a 3.2 grade-point average at Ohio’s Centerville High School, hopes his commitment will help the Wildcats secure more four-star players in the final month before national signing day.

“That's the plan,” Odenigbo said at his news conference on Saturday, “because it only takes one guy."